Spacecraft, weighing 1,350 kg, is about the size of a large hatchback car

India’s very own Mars excursion — a journey of over 385 million km — is just over a month away as the Indian Space Research Organisation prepares to launch the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) spacecraft between October 21 and November 19 from Sriharikota.

The MOM spacecraft carries five instruments or payloads to study as many aspects of Mars, including the detection of methane in its atmosphere.

Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) here S.K. Shivakumar said at a news conference on Wednesday that the spacecraft and its support elements were completed within a year — a very short period — of its approval.

“Things are in final shape. All tests for achieving this and everything that’s required have been done. The ground station network is upgraded and the reception centre reconfigured. We are pretty confident that the PSLV takes this satellite to the right orbit.”

Programme Director M. Annadurai and Project Director S. Arunan said the spacecraft would be shipped to Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre on September 27, a day after the pre-shipment review and a national committee review on September 19.

Mr. Arunan said non-readiness of the larger GSLV had forced India to use a light-lift, low-cost rocket such as the liquid-engine-powered PSLV for propulsion.

As a result, the spacecraft will take over 20 days to get on to the path to Mars and require six orbit boosts whereas other Mars missions take just a day.

As communication with the spacecraft takes 20 minutes each way, it has many components of in-built autonomy to correct itself. The ISRO has developed its own navigation software.

Asked if this costly “me-too” mission would not merely be a duplication of other Mars probes, Dr. Shivakumar said the new instruments were technological gains and India would also benefit from its own experience and perspectives on Mars.

NASA sending mission

National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) would provide support to the ground-segment operations from the Deep Space Network.About the same time the Indian spacecraft takes off, NASA too will send up its MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission) mission to Mars. But the two will work independently, Dr. Shivakumar said.

“MAVEN is scheduled to leave on November 18 and reach the red planet two days ahead of ours, by September 22 next year. MOM will have an elliptical orbit of 375 km x 80,000 km; MAVEN will take a very close look at its subject from about 50-75 km.”

My comment is a sort of reply to Mr. Ratnam who seems to have issues about the 'religiosity' of the Mars and other space missions. The secular credentials of ISRO is amply clear from the begiining. People like Mr. Ratnam do a great disservice by bringinig in unwarranted debate about religous symbols. By the same analogy if an astronaut or a cricketer or anybody makes a cross or looks up at the heaven is giving a wrong impression. The implying LOGIC which you so naievly miss is the fact that all these great men/women acknowledge that their endeavours are but small compared what they perceive as the divine. Neither me nor you have the proof either way. And lastly I would draw your attention to the famous one, 'Science without religion is Lame, Religion without sceience is Blind. None other than the master 'Albert Einstein'. Pleae please, do not bring in this secular, religious drama to this last sentinel of Indian decency.

from:
Hari Kumar

Posted on: Oct 5, 2013 at 13:07 IST

Along with Chandrayaan, the Mangalyaan project opens new doors for technology development. This is laudable.

However, I have one complaint. Before every major mission, senior ISRO scientists (including Chairman Radhakrishnan) offer prayers, visit temples, make offerings to our various Gods, and conspicuously display religious symbols on their foreheads, etc. This is irrational and undesirable, not to mention against scientific temper. It sends the wrong message to young people (for example, adolescents who wish to pursue science) that it is not the use of scientific principles that will make a difference, but more importantly we must make offerings to Gods and propitiate them in order to be successful.

ISRO scientists are well within their rights to practice their religion and maintain their faith. What is undesirable is a public demonstration of these things, or at least their reporting. The Hindu should stop reporting on rituals practiced by scientists when flagging off a project.

from:
Ratnam

Posted on: Oct 5, 2013 at 07:54 IST

What ISRO is doing for this nation is commendable and appraisable. Scientific research matters most for the development of its country and countrymen. I am sure that India will definitely be able to put their technology in front of the world which we have achieved in very short time. Rather being cynic and a bad critic, we should keep the motive of our esteemed researchers high. After all this mission will certainly help our economy zoom directly or indirectly and a reliable technology for future oriented missions.

from:
Soumya Rana

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 21:22 IST

All the Best to the team at ISRO! As a society we absolutely need to value and support efforts such as these. Irrespective of success, failure or apparent 'need' for studying Mars (although I am convinced this mission is going to be huge in terms of building India's intellectual capital around space technology), its things like these that are going to inspire and enthuse the Indians about Science and Scientific discovery. For every hundred fools that see no value in this, there will be one young, curious and precious mind that will be ignited.

from:
vinayak

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 19:25 IST

Good luck & hats off ISRO...I know some of you will be thinking that it is a waste of money and also there is nothing more to find in Mars. but I would like to say that thousands of crores are getting lost in Scams and corruption while this project is of 450 crore which is like rs 4 from every pocket, if u think there is nothing more to discover after ROVER then why NASA is approaching it again with MAVEN?
there are lots of secrets to be disclosed. its not a matter of EGO or Powerplay its simply the curiosity. I will give a thumbs up to ISRO.

from:
SUTIRTHA MISRA

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 18:27 IST

Great Work ISRO!
Especially with Methane sensor onboard for detecting the presence of life on mars! Looking forward to see the results of Mangalyaan.

from:
H.Gatty

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 15:37 IST

Well Done ISRO!! Wish you all the best for all future space endaevours.

from:
Soni

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 15:23 IST

There are many who may complain of waste of money, foreign help and many other things. I agree that they are correct to the cent that work at ground level for the people of India is low. But, we should not map the work-for-Indians and expenditure-in-the-research. Making us less dependent, if not totally independent, is still better and a step forward towards growth. How many of us know that the GSLV in India can be reused for multiple launches, thus have opened a door for business and not are not a mode for just the data-collection. Collaborate GSLV and Mars mission, and we have the answer why we should go ahead - it would prove our capability and thus more revenue from new business requirements; which will directly help us, the Indians !!

from:
sourabh

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 15:05 IST

This very good job done by ISRO congratulations to Indian scientists

from:
MADHANA GOPAL

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 14:11 IST

All the best ISRO for one of the greatest project i am Proud of you.
An achievement indeed. Hats off to ISRO Research Team.

from:
Anil Bansod

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 13:06 IST

No disrespect to ISRO/Scientists of India/Govts. Firstly I want to say that I love my country as much as anyone can.

But lets face the reality. We have lagged behind space research and any research for that matter. ISRO give us more failed projects than its successes and the successes are usually achieved with the help of foreign countries. No in collaboration with NASA I fail to understand what we are going to achieve except for satisfying the EGOs. I am not saying we should stop researching I should go on but only if its fruitful not just for justifying the money we r investing. I am ready to bet with anyone out there that All we will achieve if the mission is even a succes is already available on NASAs websites and numerous other articles available on www. There ll be nothing new when results are anounced if the mission is a success. If its a failure then it ll cost evn more because we will invest this much money again after 5-6 years from now just to get some PATS on THE BACK..

from:
varin

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 11:31 IST

There is nothing on Mars except rocks. Rover did not find anything there. I don't understand why India is going ahead with this expedition.

from:
malik

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 11:20 IST

Well done ISRO. Count down for India. With sucessfull Mars mission, we will be 4th. With GSLV Mk3 we will be 3rd and putting an Indian on moon,we will be 2nd in the world. But in space technology, we even now, tops the world.

from:
Vikramjit Singh Rana

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 10:51 IST

All the best ISRO...Proud of you. compared to money lost in scams, 450 cr is well spent.

from:
Naveen

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 09:57 IST

There are some who would say invest this money in development. I would request to continues with such projects of Research And Development and invest the money squandered in corruption in Development Projects...

from:
Arvind Bhaskar

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 09:13 IST

Congratulations ISRO! Big achievement on a reasonable budget!

People questioning whether this money is being well spent should remember that ISRO's budget is only a tiny fraction of all the money lost in corruption, scams and scandals.

from:
Nalini

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 05:06 IST

with sophisticated methods to hack into any system, proven by attack on Iran's nuclear, china's as well as US's vital systems,and lately US's NSA-surveillance one can never be sure about other countries not trying to hack into our space & nuclear installations for sabotage. Definitely if the MOM can take command from ISRO, there will be a way to make it accept commands from NASA or other advanced space agencies too, albeit a destructive one. This applies to all systems, be it rockets, missiles or satellites. Hope ISRO is alive to such contingencies or subversions.

from:
arun

Posted on: Oct 4, 2013 at 00:39 IST

Few people here, please stop saying "waste of money". Imagine, if we had stopped innovating after having landline phones, how the world would be..? Even if you think of yourself 15 years back, how different the life is?

Good job ISRO. Waiting to see this fly and zoom into the orbit.!

from:
Raja

Posted on: Oct 3, 2013 at 23:34 IST

Great ! My heartful congratulations to Isro.
I am wonder struck to see Indian scientist have reached this level of achievement.
Arguments could be on both sides but I remember when computerization of Govt.record were proposed what hue and cry was there and today all those opposing computers are themselves can not live without computers.This is the age of technology and nothing wrong if India spend some budget for such projects to keep with the time.
I was also amazed to see how economically scientists have carried out the task.

from:
Ashok

Posted on: Oct 3, 2013 at 20:37 IST

Good job ISRO!! You make us Indians proud!!

from:
vidya pani

Posted on: Oct 3, 2013 at 19:45 IST

Pls make our politicians as a passenger for this launch so that the mission will never fail.

from:
sachin

Posted on: Oct 3, 2013 at 18:09 IST

When compared to amount of corruption in the country, 450 crore rupees for this kind of useful projects is nothing.

from:
Abdulkadar

Posted on: Oct 3, 2013 at 16:53 IST

My humble request to government of India.. PLEASE name this project in Tamil/ Malayalam/ kannada/ telugu/ Dravidian Classical word.. Always indian govt names all science projects in sanskrit based names.. this is not fair..somebody should take up this issue.. no offence .. its a humble request..

Apart from that, great job ISRO scientists.. congrats.. !!

from:
arun

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 17:28 IST

Congratulations ISRO.. You make every Indian proud.. Also time has come for us to extend our knowledge of research and excellence into other fields like agriculture, environment, infrastructure and into a new world of innovation which the world is yet to see. I can see a bright future for India where leaders will be elected based on their contribution to science, development and not to a religion, caste or a language.

from:
John

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 17:09 IST

People who are cribbing about poverty should remember that stifling science is not going to improve the ground reality. England did not wait for all its citizens to have basic needs before starting industrial revolution - poverty reduction was a side effect of industrial revolution.

One benefit is that spinoff industries to cater to the space sector will help us build high-tech industries which will benefit other sectors as well. Please look at "NASA Spinoff Technologies" on Wikipedia. You will be spellbound.

Only today there is an article in Hindu on the USA forcing us to adopt patented fridge gas. Ever wondered how much the "taxpayer" would have saved had we invested in this research? Premature miserliness is going to cost. BTW, 450 crores for the mission is 0.03 per cent of the union budget expenditure for this year - basic science is not all that expensive compared to its benefits.

from:
Satyadev

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 16:48 IST

Its a waste of many.. invest this mony on development schemes..

from:
Manoj Khati

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 15:45 IST

Sir, reading this, I cannot but wonder is all this needed for a country like ours where we are still fighting poverty and lot of other down-to-earth things? What are the objectives of this mission? To show the world we have needed technology for such inter planetary things? What will the five instruments on board relay and discover for us? And, how does any of that help the country. I feel it’s money wasted, as I would rather they spent it on perfecting GSLV and ability to send satellites into orbit – at least we can earn some money out of it.

An oft stated argument of such missions is, when the time comes for the humanity to explore and exploit any mineral sources on these terrestrial bodies, missions like this will help put India at the high table of negotiations. How valid is it? If US or China start mining moon in near future, are they going to first approach the international community? Well, think again....

from:
Sreenivas

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 15:08 IST

60 years back we are orphaned with no resources and looted historic wealth but this did not stop us, in fact it gave us an enormous room for growth. ISRO is the classical milestone which has shown our caliber to the so called developed world that 'we only can do it', despite of many constraints and backlogs. ISRO is making us proud by making international sensations every hour...day...month and year.I am sure this will be a grand success and also we are not far from a historic GSLV launch after this. Good luck ISRO team.

from:
sandeep kumar

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 14:05 IST

Good Luck to ISRO.

from:
kharat

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 13:16 IST

So nice to see Indian Space Research Organisation reaching new horizons...all the best.

from:
Roosan Liyons

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 08:29 IST

It is ironic that the country that is alleged to have scuttled ISRO's cryogenic engine program is now helping ISRO in its current Mars mission.

from:
Shyam

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 08:26 IST

Mars mission...? Because some other nations are also sending some of their own?

What about resource-reallocation to research for Diabetes, Malaria, TB vaccines, Encephalitis, Mental health and brain research, Population control? I guess these are not the priorities of delhi bosses!

from:
yog

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 08:16 IST

Is this necessary. The money could have been spent on other things like schools and hospitals and roads.

from:
raghu prabhu

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 08:03 IST

Colossal waste of our tax money for dubious miniscule benefits. Yes, science is always expensive and necessary to pursue .. but the costs must be weighed against how it could be better used for society .. there are far too many pressing issues in India (like increasing the number of courts by 100 times or better equipping our soldiers to tackle the constant invasions). Such research is better left to advanced countries who have the money to burn.

from:
Gokul

Posted on: Sep 12, 2013 at 07:09 IST

An achievement indeed. If we get our country free of Godmen and superstition we can achieve a lot more. Hats off to The Research Team.